7/26/2013

In Chile, the Fight to Legalize the Right to Choose Goes to Church

In Santiago, Chile, yesterday, thousands of people marched in the streets to call for the legalization of at least some abortions in that big, growing nation.

Abortion was legal in some circumstances in Chile until General Augusto Pinochet, aka "That Torturing Motherfucker," outlawed it in all cases, even if the pregnant woman's life is in danger, in 1973, the year that Roe v. Wade gave women in the United States the right to choose. In the U.S. this week, the North Carolina legislature passed a law severely limiting or closing off the options for women who wish to have abortions, and three rural Planned Parenthood clinics announced they were closing in Texas, where the Attorney General said that abortion should be outlawed in all cases, even if the pregnant woman's life is in danger, just like Chile, where there are about 160,000 illegal abortions carried out every year.

The president of that country recently praised an 11 year-old girl who was impregnated when she was raped by her mother's boyfriend. Her mother said the sex was consensual. The girl said she looked forward to having the baby and holding it like "a doll." President Sebastian Pinera said the girl showed "depth and maturity." This case is one of the reasons for several pro-legalization marches throughout the summer in Chile.

The march ended at the Cathedral of Santiago. The protesters interrupted a service, planted their signs on statues, and took over the altar.

It's good to know that, in Chile, the pro-choice forces realize who all the enemies are.